Urea

Industrially, urea is used in the manufacturing of fertilizers (as a source of nitrogen) and in the synthesis of some barbiturates and in the petroleum industry to help separate straight chain and branched hydrocarbons in petroleum. Urea is widely used in the production of many plastics and resins. One of the most common of these is a resin formed by the reaction of urea and formaldehyde. Urea-formaldehyde resins are used in the adhesives industry (urea-formaldehyde resins are used in making laminated woods), in textile finishes, and surface coatings for plastics. These resins are widely used since they accept dyes easily. Over 661,000 lb (300,000 kg) of urea-formaldehyde resins are produced annually in the United States. Urea is also used as a stabilizer for many explosives, allowing greater control over the reactions. Urea is made commercially by reacting ammonia and carbon dioxide under high pressure.